RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Story Of Lifeboat Crew Billed For Lost Inflatable Is A Tall Tale, Says RNLI

16th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Don’t believe everything you read, the RNLI advises, after the lifesaving charity was forced to debunk claims it was recently billed for an inflatable toy lost during the rescue of a child. According to The Independent, there appear to have…

Lough Ree RNLI Carriy out Medical Evacuation After Woman on Boat Becomes Unwell

15th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI came to the aid of a woman who became unwell on a boat on the lake on Tuesday evening and required a medical evacuation. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 9.15pm by…

Ruth’s fiancé Jim Griffin presents a cheque for £9,000 to Newcastle RNLI’s station coxswain Nathan Leneghan (right) and fellow crew members who were involved in the search, from left, Sean Cunningham, station mechanic Shane Rice, Gerry McConkey and David Hughes. Also included is Newcastle RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Lisa Ramsden.

Family Raise £9,000 for Newcastle RNLI in Memory of Local Woman Ruth Maguire

14th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The family of Ruth Maguire, who was drowned in Carlingford Lough last March, have raised £9,000 for Newcastle RNLI in her memory. Newcastle RNLI was involved in the search for Ruth along with other search and rescue agencies and recovered…

Kinsale RNLI’s lifeboat crew return Ghost, the year-old Holstein Friesian, to safety

Kinsale Lifeboat Gets A Little Help From Farmer To Rescue Cow From Harbour After Cliff Fall

13th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A cow named Ghost was saved from Kinsale Harbour at the weekend after slipping down a cliff from the field above — in what also marked a second animal rescue this year for Kinsale RNLI. Kinsale’s lifeboat volunteers launched on…

The casualty vessel under tow by Mullaghmore RNLI

Bundoran RNLI Called to Vessel Washed Up at Mullaghmore

12th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch to reports of a vessel that had washed up on rocks off Mullaghmore Head on Monday afternoon (August 12th 2019). The pagers were activated by Malin Head Coast Guard at 4:16 pm. They…

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat off Roches Point

Man Who Fell Ill On Lusitania Wreck Dive Among Callouts For Cork Coast Lifeboats

9th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry RNLI was among the search and rescue agencies who responded yesterday morning (Thursday 8 August) to reports that a man had taken ill during a diving expedition to the wreck of the Lusitania. As reported by The Irish Times,…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Three Callouts Over Busy Bank Holiday Weekend For Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat

7th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

It was a busy August Bank Holiday weekend on the Wexford coast with three callouts for Rosslare Harbour’s lifeboat volunteers. The first came on Saturday evening (3 August) at 6pm, when the lifeboat readied for launch to a report of…

File image of Clifden RNLI’s inshore and Mersey class lifeboats, which launched to the kayakers in distress yesterday evening

Sea Kayakers Rescued By Clifden Lifeboat Crew

7th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Two sea kayakers were rescued from the water off Ballyconneely in western Connemara by Clifden RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 6 August). Just after 4.30pm the lifeboat station’s volunteers responded to reports via the Irish Coast Guard of kayakers…

Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat Carries out Double Medical Evacuation off Inis Mór

6th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI came to the aid of two people yesterday evening (Bank Holiday Monday 5 August) who required medical attention off the islands. The all-weather Severn class lifeboat David Kirkaldy was requested to launch at 8 pm by the…

Oisin and Nathan Cassidy, whose father James is helm with Bundoran RNLI

Bundoran Lifesavers Learn Vital Skills Thanks To RNLI Training Fund

5th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Two recently recruited volunteer lifeboat crew at Bundoran RNLI have had a key part of their training funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, according to the lifesaving charity. Brothers Oisin and Nathan Cassidy, from Kinlough in Co Leitrim, recently travelled to…

Carrybridge RNLI at Naan Island on Sunday 4 August

Double Callout For Carrybridge Lifeboat On Busy Sunday Morning

5th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge lifeboat volunteers a busy morning on Sunday (4 August), starting with two personal water craft with engine issues close to Naan Island on Upper Lough Erne. The relief inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft were launched at 11.33am to…

Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Assist Three Yacht Crew Near Inishbofin

4th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Three crew on board a yacht which experienced difficulty off Inishbofin, North Connemara, were rescued by the RNLI Clifden crew on Saturday evening writes Lorna Siggins The yacht had been on passage to Inishbofin when its dinghy broke loose, according…

A large juvenile dolphin which became stranded at Bundúla, in Blacksod Bay

Ballyglass RNLI Rescue Stranded Dolphin in Blacksod Bay

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Seven volunteer lifeboat crew members from Ballyglass RNLI came to the rescue of a large juvenile dolphin which became stranded at Bundúla, in Blacksod Bay, just outside Belmullet this morning. The alarm was raised by concerned former RNLI crew member…

Missing Cork Harbour Kayaker Has Lucky Escape

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A large multi agency operation was launched after a kayaker was reported missing after a 2 man kayak capsized between Fountainstown and Myrtleville. The volunteers of Crosshaven RNLI were tasked at 1.37pm to attend the area after one of the…

The man fell on the shoreline, trapping his leg badly in some rocks and was unable to free himself

Clifden RNLI Rescue Man Trapped in Shoreline Fall

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A man whose leg got trapped on the Connemara shoreline during a rising tide was brought to safety in a multi-agency rescue on Thursday evening writes Lorna Siggins The incident occurred when a couple were out walking at Slackport on…

Lough Derg RNLI arriving at the 18ft boat with engine failure at Castlelough

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Boat After Engine Fire

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

On Tuesday evening (30 July), Lough Derg RNLI launched to the aid of an 18ft boat with engine failure by Mountshannon Harbour on the Clare shore. On arrival at the reported location, the volunteer lifeboat was directed by Valentia Coast…

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Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset